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Eleven laps in the lead, the track like an unblemished horizon, but not even this time was the right chance for his first win. “I always have the same problems, Andrea and Marc” jokes Danilo Petrucci, for whom a podium finish is no disappointment this time.
“I am happy. The previous times I had the win snatched from me when I thought I had it in the bag, but today I realised at the mid-race point that I couldn’t do any more - he explains - I can’t help but be happy. I gave 10 seconds to 4th place and in the end I settled. I had less traction than Marquez and Dovizioso.”
However, Danilo made a unique choice, putting on the extra-soft tyre on the rear, unlike his direct rivals.
“I don’t know if it was the right decision, but it is the first time that I have gone against the majority and I am happy that I have reached this maturity level. There was a time when I would not have done that - he points out - Would I have been able to be faster with the soft? We’ll never know.”
It certainly gave him an advantage in the first half of the race.
“I was a lot faster than the others. I wasn’t pushing to the limit and yet I had gained a two and a half second advantage - he recounts - Then they caught me and from that moment on I was unable to follow them. The rear was giving me problems in braking and I couldn’t open the throttle on the straights.”
At least he had a front row seat for the Dovi and Marc show.
“I had fun seeing them battle. They both rode an incredible race - he confesses - At the mid-race point I didn’t think that Andrea would be able to do it, but then I came out of a corner and saw him in the lead. Dovi was labelled as one who doesn’t take risks, but he showed that he has balls too.”
At a certain point, Petrucci found himself between the two, not an easy position when you think that they are fighting for the title.
“Ducati did not ask me to move aside for Dovizioso. In fact, Ciabatti – the sports director - told me that everyone would be happy if I managed to win the race, but without doing anything stupid. They are very fair and sporting toward me. In fact, I hope that those 4 points I took from Dovi at Misano will not make the difference at the end of the season for him.”
In any case, Danilo will have his chance at redemption as early as next week.
“Of course I will try to win. That’s what I’m here for. It has been a great season with a lot of good results, but also a few too many zeroes because of my mistakes or breakdowns. I am happy so far, but there are still 3 races left on tracks that I like a lot”, he assures.
